The Beaver County District Attorney’s Office released the following statement regarding the synthetic drug Xylazine:

District Attorney David Lozier today announced two fatal drug overdoses from the synthetic drug Xylazine, a/k/a “tranq.”

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer which is now being used with or in place of Fentanyl. Xylazine can be sold in powder form; it can be pressed into pill form to imitate prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Xanax or Percocet; or it can be mixed with Cocaine, Crack or Methamphetamine.

Xylazine is often fatal. It is more deadly than Fentanyl. A Xylazine overdose CANNOT BE REVERSED with Narcan.

If used on a repeat basis the Xylazine user develops open skin ulcers, decaying skin lesions and dangerous skin infections.

One Pill Can Kill.

We are again warning the public that any drug or any pill obtained from any source or person other than a licensed pharmacist may be mixed with fatal Fentanyl or Xylazine. One pill from a friend or black-market source can kill.

The presence of Xylazine in the two recent deaths was confirmed by the Beaver County Anti- Drug Task Force using its MX-908 drug testing device. This new equipment was purchased by the Beaver County District Attorney with the assistance of PCCD Grant funding and the help of our Beaver County State Representatives, the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and the Beaver County HIDTA.